Editorial October 14, 2002 Issue

War and a call to prayer

Editor

Spiritual thinkers—and do-ers—don't have to believe that they are helpless. Or that war is inevitable. Or that we are merely pawns in a global chess game in which we have no say in, no control over, the shaping of events. Prayer can make a difference in the mental atmosphere in the United States and in the rest of the world. Through prayer—active, engaged, felt prayer—we can contribute to lifting the mental atmosphere out of what The New York Times journalist Chris Hedges calls "the rush, the fever, and blood lust of war."

In his book, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Hedges describes how nations can be "seduced" by war. Perhaps that phrase can serve as a reminder that, even if a country is already at war, its citizens, as individuals, have the right to resist acting out the baser human traits of hatred, selfishness, retribution, greed—the "blood lust" of war.

Despite the decisions governments make that impact the world—and there are times when wars have been fought to defend basic liberties—we can, and must, identity ourselves and others, and even our enemies, in our and their true spiritual light. We are called upon to recognize the God-derived nature of our brothers and sisters, whoever and wherever they may be, regardless of nationality or politics. The eternal, true qualities of goodness, flexibility, and compassion exist in every human heart, and can triumph over any circumstance. Acknowledging all of creation as the work of one creator, who is Spirit, we will recognize this creation as being entirely good. Consecrated prayer will help us see, and respond to, all of God's children as spiritual beings imbued with a love of peace.

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